Vistakon Ireland, which is a subsidary of Johnson and Johnson - already employs 650 people at it's plant in the city.

It produces the Acuvue range of contact lenses, one of the leading contact lens products in the world.

It's understood that Job's Minister Richard Bruton will visit the company later this morning to announce the positions.

Enterprise Ireland published their end of year statement for 2012 at the beginning of january, reporting that last year saw the highest employment gain since 2006.